KR20150020704A - Block sharing using three-way transformers in wireless circuits - Google Patents

Abstract

A multipath circuit having a plurality of signal paths and various common components used for normal operation is described. In addition, each of the plurality of signal paths has a plurality of circuit blocks defining the function of the signal path. The shared access path is provided through the third winding of the three-way transformer for each signal path. A plurality of switches coupled to the third winding in each of the plurality of signal paths are provided in the multipath circuit. In addition, the switches are coupled to various common components. Selected ones of these switches may be closed to provide a shared access path between one of the common components and one of the signal paths or between one of the circuit blocks in the signal paths.

Description

[0001] BLOCK SHARING USING THREE-WAY TRANSFORMERS IN WIRELESS CIRCUITS USING 3-DIRECT TRANSFORMERS IN WIRELESS CIRCUITS [0002]

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to block sharing using three-way transformers in wireless circuits.

In modern wireless radio designs, transmitters must support multiple frequency bands and standards to support new standards as well as backward compatibility. The desire to support such multiple frequencies and standards has led to more components and signal paths being added to the radio transmitter. While these current wireless radio equipment and components have become much smaller using advances in circuit integration techniques and technologies, additional components and smaller footprints require less space on the chip die To be available and more valuable.

For testing and calibration of different sections and components of the radio transmitter, dedicated conductor traces and test pins have been previously designed and integrated within the transmitter chips. However, due to the increased scarcity and cost of chip die area, it is no longer practical or cost effective to create dedicated conductor traces.

Representative aspects of the present invention are directed to wireless radio transmissions configured for wireless communication. A wireless radio transmitter includes a plurality of signal paths, each of the plurality of signal paths including a plurality of circuit blocks, one or more common components coupled to each of the signal paths, Way transformer wherein a first winding of the three-way transformer is coupled to a first group of circuit blocks and a second winding of the three-way transformer is coupled to a second group of circuit blocks And the third winding of the three-way transformer is coupled to one or more common components. The wireless radio transmitter also includes one or more third-winding switches coupled to a third winding of the three-way transformer of each of the signal paths, wherein the activation of one or more third- A shared access path is created between the common components and at least one of the first and second groups of circuit blocks.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for testing a multipath circuit includes activating a testing path into a signal path of a plurality of signal paths of a multipath circuit, wherein the testing path includes a signal path Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 3-way < / RTI > The method may be performed on one or more of the circuit blocks in the signal path, and / or one or more of the common components coupled to each of the plurality of signal paths, via one or more Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > of < / RTI > The method also includes testing the active ones of each of the circuit blocks and common components using a testing path.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a multipath radio circuit includes means for activating a testing path into a signal path among a plurality of signal paths of a multipath circuit, wherein the testing path includes coupling Lt; / RTI > to the third winding of the three-way transformer. The multipath radio circuit may also include one or more circuit blocks in the signal path and either or both of the common components coupled to each of the plurality of signal paths, And means for transmitting one or more deactivation signals through the one or more deactivation signals. The multipath radio circuit also includes means for testing active ones of the circuit blocks and common components using a testing path.

1 is a circuit diagram conceptually showing a radio transmitter constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
2 is a circuit diagram conceptually showing a wireless transmitter constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
3 is a circuit diagram conceptually showing a radio transmitter configured according to an aspect of the present invention.
4 is a circuit diagram conceptually showing a radio transmitter configured according to an aspect of the present invention.
5 is a circuit diagram conceptually showing a radio transmitter constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
6 is a circuit diagram conceptually showing a radio transmitter configured according to an aspect of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating exemplary blocks that are implemented to implement one aspect of the present invention.

The following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the specification includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the gist of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in every individual case, and in some instances well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form for clarity of presentation.

The techniques described herein may be used for wireless radio transmitters configured for various wireless communication networks, such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and other networks. The terms "network" and "system" are often used interchangeably. CDMA networks may implement radio technologies such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), CDMA2000 (R) of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), and the like. UTRA technology includes wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. CDMA2000? Technology includes the Electronics Industry Alliance (EIA) and IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards from TIA. The TDMA network may implement radio technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). OFDMA networks may implement radio technologies such as bulb UTRA (E-UTRA), ultra mobile broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDMA, UTRA and E-UTRA technologies are part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) are newer releases of UMTS using E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A and GSM are described in documents from an organization referred to as "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP). CDMA2000® and UMB are described in documents from an organization referred to as "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used in wireless radio transmitters configured for other wireless networks and radio access technologies as well as wireless networks and radio access technologies described above.

As described, modern wireless radio transmitters must be able to support multiple frequency bands and standards to support previous standards as well as new standards. However, limitations in increasing chip die area have led to techniques for sharing common circuit blocks and pins to provide more flexible support while preserving chip area. One configuration for providing a shared signal access path to a multipath circuit is described. Multipath circuits, such as wireless transmitters, have multiple signal paths and various common components used for normal operation. In addition, each of the plurality of signal paths may have a plurality of circuit blocks defining the functionality of the signal path. A plurality of switches coupled to the signal path access nodes in each of the plurality of signal paths are provided in the multipath circuit. In addition, the switches are coupled to various common components. Selected ones of these switches may be closed to provide a shared access point between the common component and one of the signal paths, or between one of the circuit blocks in one of the signal paths and the common components.

For example, in a wireless transmitter, one of the common components may be a test pin. One of the signal path power amplifier circuit blocks may be coupled to the test pin through the signal path access node by activating certain ones of the switches and deactivating the mixer circuit block in the signal path. The signal path access node is configured using a three-way transformer that includes a third winding on a transformer that may already be in the signal path. Each segment in the signal path including certain common components may be enabled or disabled to isolate specific portions of the signal path to be tested and corresponding circuit components. For example, the power amplifier may be tested in isolation by disabling the shear component and injecting a test signal through the signal path access node to drive the power amplifier. In addition, by enabling the mixer block and disabling the power amplifier block, the transmitter baseband filter and mixer may be tested through the same signal path to the test pin without non-linear effects of the power amplifier. Thus, the signal path may be shared for various parts of the multipath circuit.

In various aspects of the invention, selected circuit blocks such as mixers, local oscillators (LOs), power amplifiers, etc., or selected common components such as filters, digital-to-analog converters (DACs) It should be noted that disabling may be implemented via switches. Such disabling or deactivation switches may simply de-couple the component from the circuit or disengage power to the particular component.

1 is a circuit diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless transmitter 10 configured in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The wireless transmitter 10 includes DACs 100i and 100q that each receive input signals that are phase shifted in an in-phase and quadrature relationship. Inphase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals may arrive from a quadrature demodulator that demodulates a single signal into I and Q components. The digitized output from the DACs 100i and 100q is filtered at the transmitter baseband filter 101 and output to any one or more signal paths of the signal paths. The wireless transmitter 10 shows two signal paths, i.e., signal paths 102-1 and 102-2, out of N possible signal paths. The filtered signals are processed in signal path 102-1 across mixer 103-1 and power amplifier 106-1 driven by LO 104-1. Thereafter, the processed and amplified signal is provided to an output pin 107-1 from which the signal may be transmitted to the antenna for driving the antenna for transmission or through modulators, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processors, May be provided for additional processing as well. Similar signal processing is performed over signal path 102-2 with components such as mixer 103-2, LO 104-2, and power amplifier 106-2, (107-2).

As configured in accordance with an exemplary aspect, a three-way transformer, i.e., transformers 105-1 and 105-2, may be coupled to a signal of radio transmitter 10, such as signal paths 102-1 and 102-2, Paths. Each of the transformers 105-1 and 105-2 includes three windings 105-1-1 and 105-2-1, two windings 105-1-2 and 105-2 -2), and third windings 105-1-3 and 105-2-3. Often, a two-way transformer already exists in the signal paths of the radio transmitters to provide inductive coupling of the processed signals between circuit blocks of signal paths. Such a two-way transformer provides less load on the signal path of the transmitters. Adding third windings 105-1-3 and 105-2-3 using a tap coupled to the shared access path 108 is beneficial in appreciably appreciating the load on the transmitter circuit, And provide signal path access nodes at the third windings 105-1-3 and 105-2-3 without increasing the currents. Activating a third winding (105-1-3) of the transformer 105-1 and closing the switch SW ₁ (109) is, from the signal path 102-1, the signals are received or the signal path 102-1 Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > A third winding (105-1-3), a shared access path (108), this access path, the switch SW _{I / O} (111) defined by the switch SW ₁ (109) of the transformer 105-1 Depending on the state, the multi-purpose block 110 may also be connected to the switch _{I / O} 111 via a single shared access path 108 at the test input / output (I / O) pin 112, May allow reading or injecting signals from one or more components that are generically identified by < RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI >

For such an arrangement to provide three-way transformers 105-1 and 105-2 as signal path access nodes, the radio transmitter 10 may be used to test performance or to calibrate various components within the wireless transmitter 10 But may operate in a number of different modes. The various testing and calibration equipment may be coupled to test I / O pin 112 or general purpose block 110 to provide DACs 100i-q, transmitter baseband filter 101, multipurpose block 110, test I / O 112 such as the mixers 103-1 and 103-2, the LOs 104-1 and 104-2, the power amplifiers 106-1 and 106-2, and the like. In order to enable or disable the various parts of the circuit blocks of the transmitter 10 using enable common switches and enablement switches (not shown) located within those common components and circuit blocks, May be injected into the paths. For example, a testing instrument coupled to test I / O pin 112 may signal to disable LO 104-1 and power amplifier 106-1. The testing equipment may then measure the filtering characteristics of the transmitter baseband filter 101 by measuring the output of the transmitter baseband filter 101 from the test signals applied to the DACs 100i and 100q.

The various combinations of disabling / enabling of the circuit components may be performed using shared access paths, i. E. Shared access paths 108, to individual points in the selected signal pathways of the wireless transmitter 10 ≪ / RTI > may also be used to test the < RTI ID = 0.0 > Further, the switches SW ₁ , SW ₂ , SW _N - Any one of the signal paths of the wireless transmitter 10 may be tested or the components or portions of the selected signal paths may be tested using a single shared test path, May be tested. Accordingly, various aspects of the present invention may define a number of different modes of operation for the wireless transmitter 10 corresponding to the desired circuit blocks or components for testing.

2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a wireless transmitter 10 constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 2 illustrates operation through signal path 102-1. In the state shown in Figure 2, the switches SW _1, SW _2, SW to _N - 109 are open respectively and the third winding 105-1-3 of the transformer 105-1 is inactivated. Signals entering DACs 100i and 100q are normally processed throughout mixer 103-1 driven by transmitter baseband filter 101, LO 104-1 and transformed to transformer 105- 1 and is amplified through power amplifier 106-1 for the final processed signal provided on output pin 107-1. In this "normal" mode of operation, the radio transmitter 10 provides and outputs signals at a specific frequency that is controlled by the mixer 103-1 and the configuration of the LO 104-1.

3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a wireless transmitter 10 constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a wireless transmitter 10 in a testing mode for testing the transmitter baseband filter 101 and the mixer 103-1 of the signal path 102-1 in a stand-alone manner. The testing equipment (not shown) is coupled to the test I / O pin 112 while the switches SW _{I / O} 111 and SW ₁ 109 are closed and the shared access path 108 is connected to the transformer 105-1 through the third winding 105-1-3 of the first coil 105-1. The testing equipment provides disabling signals to the power amplifier 106-1. Thus, the active portions of the wireless transmitter 10 include DACs 100i and 100q, a transmitter baseband filter 101, a mixer 103-1, an LO 104-1, a first winding 105-1- 1), and the third winding 105-1-3. In addition, the second winding 105-1-2 is inactivated. A test signal is applied to the DACs 100i and 100q and the test signal is typically processed across the mixer 103-1 driven by the transmitter baseband filter 101 and the LO 104-1. The testing equipment attached to the test I / O pin 112 is connected to the signal path access node of the tap at the third winding 105-1-3 of the transformer 105-1 and through the shared access path 108 And receives the processed signal. In this signal, the testing equipment may test the filter performance of the transmitter baseband filter 101, the linearity of the mixer 103-1, and the performance of the LO 104-1.

4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a wireless transmitter 10 configured in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The example shown in Fig. 4 shows that each of the activated windings of the first three-way transformer 105-1, i.e., the first winding 105-1-1, the second winding 105-1-2, And the signal path 102-1 having the third winding 105-1-3 will be described. Figure 4 shows a wireless transmitter 10 in a testing mode for independent testing of a power amplifier. The testing equipment (not shown) is coupled to the test I / O pin 112 and the switches SW _{I / O} 111 and SW ₁ 109 are closed so that the shared access path 108 is connected to the transformer 105 -1 through the third winding 105-1-3 of the signal path 102-1. The testing equipment sends the disabling signals via the shared access path 108 to disable the LO 104-1 and the disabling signals are sent to the mixer 103-1 and the wireless transmitter 10, Lt; / RTI > The testing equipment injects a test signal to the test I / O pin 112 via the shared access path 108 and the test signal is passed through the third winding 105-1-3 of the transformer 105-1 And is applied as an input to the power amplifier 106-1. A portion of the testing equipment is then coupled to output pin 107-1 to receive an output signal from power amplifier 106-1. Using this output signal, the testing equipment can characterize the power amplifier 106-1 through, for example, digital pre-distortion (DPD) debugging and determine the linearity of the power amplifier 106-1 May be measured. Thus, using the same shared access path 108 and combination of switches SW _{I / O} 111 and SW ₁ 109, the radio transmitter 10 can perform independent testing of different sections of one of the signal paths .

5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a wireless transmitter 10 constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The example shown in Fig. 5 shows that the signal path 102- 1, in which the first winding 105-1-1 and the third winding 105-1-3 are activated but the second winding 105-1-2 is inactive, 1) will be described. FIG. 5 shows a wireless transmitter 10 in calibration mode for calibrating a portion of the front end of a wireless transmitter 10, such as LO 104-1, any I / Q mismatch, and so on. Correction unit, that is, multi-purpose block 110 as the switch SW ₁ (109) is closed, is coupled in the signal path 102-1, the third coil (105-1-3) of the transformer (105-1) is the Is abolished. Purpose block 110 transmits the disable signal via the shared access path 108 to disable the power amplifier 106-1. This keeps the front end of the radio transmitter 10 active and available for testing and calibration. The test signal is applied to the DACs 100i and 100q and processed through the transmitter 101 and the mixer 103-1 driven by the LO 104-1. The resulting signal output from the mixer 103-1 is provided to the multipurpose block 110 via the shared access path 108 via a tap at the third winding 105-1-3 of the transformer 105-1. Lt; / RTI > The multipurpose block 110 may test the signal to determine if the LO 104-1 is configured properly or if there is any I / Q mismatch. Based on such testing, the multipurpose block 110 sends calibration signals to the component being tested / calibrated to adjust the signal for proper or desired operation.

6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a wireless transmitter 10 configured in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The example shown in Fig. 6 is an example in which each winding of the first three-way transformer 105-1, that is, the first winding 105-1-1, the second winding 105-1-2, The operation of the three winding 105-1-3 over the inactive signal path 102-1 will be described. Figure 6 shows a wireless transmitter 10 in calibration mode for calibrating or self-testing the multipurpose block 110. [ Testing equipment (not shown), is coupled to the test I / O pins 112, the switches SW _1, SW _2, SW to _N - (109) and closes the switch SW _{I / O} (111). The switches SW ₁ , SW ₂ , SW _N - The test equipment is coupled to the multi-purpose block 110 via the end portion of the shared access path 108, with the switch 109 open and the switch SW _{I / O} 111 closed. As discussed above, the multi-purpose block 110 may include any number of different types of equipment or components, such as an LO calibration unit, an IQ calibration unit, a drive amplifier, and the like. Self-testing of operation allows such equipment, i.e., multi-purpose block 110, to be tested and self-calibrated.

Each signal path of the wireless transmitter 10, such as signal path (102-1 and 102-2), the switches SW _1, SW _2, SW to _N - And may be operated separately in different modes using the same shared access path 108 by being controlled by proper activation of the switch SW _{I / O} 111 and the switch SW _{I / O} 111. [ This configuration allows for a flexible number of testing and calibration modes using shared paths, thus preserving the chip die area. Further, the use of a three-way transformer such as transformers 105-1 and 105-2 can reduce both loading effects and asymmetries on mixers and power amplifiers. Further, the use of a three-way transformer, such as transformers 105-1 and 105-2, provides direct current (DC) isolation, and thus the transmitter has third windings 105-1-3 and 105- (AC) coupling (or DC blocking) capacitors in the signal coupling through the input / output terminals.

Various aspects of the present invention allow each mixer and power amplifier to be separately tested through test pins, such as test I / O pins 112. The mixer or power amplifier may also have a stand-alone measurement support that makes the processes much easier, such as power amplifier DPD debugging. In addition, common transmit blocks such as LO or IQ calibration blocks, pre-drivers for external devices, and test I / O ports may be used for shared tests such as shared access paths 108 May also be shared via paths. A transmit filter, such as transmit baseband filter 101, may be shared when only one of the signal paths at a time operates in a normal mode of operation.

Figure 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating exemplary blocks that are implemented to implement one aspect of the present invention. At block 700, the testing path is activated into one of the plurality of signal paths of the multipath circuit, wherein the testing path is coupled to the third winding of the three-way transformer coupled into the signal path. The multipath circuit may be a wireless transmitter or a wireless receiver. At block 701, one or more deactivation signals are applied to either one of the selected ones of the circuit blocks in the signal path, or to selected ones of the common components coupled to each of the signal paths, . Thereafter, at block 702, the active circuit blocks or common components are tested using a testing path.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may refer to voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields, , Optical fields or optical particles, or any combination thereof.

The previous description of the invention is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims (21)

A wireless radio transmitter configured for wireless communication,
A plurality of signal paths, each of the plurality of signal paths including a plurality of circuit blocks;
One or more common components coupled to each of the plurality of signal paths;
A three-way transformer in each of the plurality of signal paths, wherein a first winding of the three-way transformer is coupled to a first group of circuit blocks of the plurality of circuit blocks A second winding of the three-way transformer is coupled to a second group of circuit blocks of the plurality of circuit blocks and a third winding of the three-way transformer is coupled to the one or more common components Coupled;
One or more switches coupled to the third winding of the three-way transformer of each of the plurality of signal paths,
Wherein in response to activation of the one or more switches, an access path is created that is shared between at least one of the first group and the second group of one or more common components and circuit blocks, A wireless radio transmitter configured for. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising adding an input signal from the one or more common components to one or more of the plurality of signal paths via the shared access path, . 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the input signal is added to at least one of the first group and the second group of circuit blocks. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising the step of measuring a transmitter signal from one or more of the plurality of signal paths through the shared access path by the one or more common elements, transmitter. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the transmitter signal is measured from at least one of the first group and the second group of circuit blocks. The method according to claim 1,
The one or more common components,
Test pin;
Calibration module;
Drive amplifiers; And
A signal generator, and / or a signal generator. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the plurality of circuit blocks include:
A baseband filter;
Local oscillator;
mixer; And
A power amplifier, and / or a power amplifier. CLAIMS 1. A method for testing multipath circuits,
Activating a testing path into a signal path among a plurality of signal paths of the multipath circuit, the testing path coupled to a third winding of a three-way transformer coupled into the signal path;
At least one of one or more of the plurality of circuit blocks in the signal path and at least one of the plurality of common components coupled to each of the plurality of signal paths, Transmitting one or more deactivation signals via the testing path; And
And testing, using the testing path, active ones of the plurality of common components and the plurality of circuit blocks, respectively. 9. The method of claim 8,
Injecting a test signal from the testing path into the signal path, the test signal entering the signal path through the third winding of the three-way transformer;
Processing the test signal by the ones of the plurality of common components and each of the plurality of circuit blocks; And
≪ / RTI > further comprising measuring the processed test signal. 9. The method of claim 8,
Injecting a test signal into an input to at least one of said plurality of common components and said ones of said plurality of circuit blocks;
Processing the test signal by the ones of the plurality of common components and each of the plurality of circuit blocks; And
Further comprising measuring a processed test signal through a testing path,
Wherein the processed test signal enters the testing path through the third winding of the three-way transformer. 9. The method of claim 8,
The plurality of common components comprising:
Test pin;
Calibration module;
Drive amplifiers; And
Wherein the signal generator comprises two or more of the signal generators. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the plurality of circuit blocks include:
A baseband filter;
Local oscillator;
mixer; And
A power amplifier, and / or a power amplifier. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the multipath circuit comprises one of a wireless transmitter or a wireless receiver. 9. The method of claim 8,
Activating a second testing path into a second one of the plurality of signal paths of the multipath circuit, the second testing path further comprising the step of providing an additional three-way transformer coupled into the second signal path Coupled to the third winding;
One or more second circuit blocks of a second plurality of circuit blocks in the second signal path and one or more of the second plurality of common components coupled to each of the plurality of signal paths Transmitting one or more second inactive signals to at least one of the second common components via the second testing path; And
Further comprising testing the second plurality of common components and the second one of each of the second plurality of circuit blocks using the second testing path. A multipath radio circuit comprising:
Means for activating a testing path into a signal path of a plurality of signal paths of the multipath circuit, the testing path coupled to a third winding of a three-way transformer coupled into the signal path;
At least one of one or more of the plurality of circuit blocks in the signal path and at least one of the plurality of common components coupled to each of the plurality of signal paths, Means for transmitting one or more deactivation signals via the testing path; And
And means for testing, using the testing path, the ones of the plurality of common components and each of the plurality of circuit blocks active. 16. The method of claim 15,
Means for injecting a test signal into the signal path from the testing path, the test signal entering the signal path through the third winding of the three-way transformer;
Means for processing the test signal by the ones of the plurality of common components and each of the plurality of circuit blocks being active; And
Further comprising means for measuring a processed test signal from an output of one of said plurality of common components and one of said plurality of circuit blocks active. 16. The method of claim 15,
Means for injecting a test signal at an input to at least one of the plurality of common components and the active ones of each of the plurality of circuit blocks;
Means for processing the test signal by the ones of the plurality of common components and each of the plurality of circuit blocks being active; And
Further comprising means for measuring a processed test signal through a testing path,
Wherein the processed test signal enters the testing path through the third winding of the three-way transformer. 16. The method of claim 15,
The plurality of common components comprising:
Test pin;
Calibration module;
Drive amplifiers; And
And two or more of the signal generators. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the plurality of circuit blocks include:
A baseband filter;
Local oscillator;
mixer; And
A power amplifier, and / or a power amplifier. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the multipath circuit comprises one of a wireless transmitter or a wireless receiver. 16. The method of claim 15,
Means for activating a second testing path into a second one of the plurality of signal paths of the multipath circuit, the second testing path comprising an additional three-way transformer coupled to the second signal path, Coupled to an additional third winding;
One or more second circuit blocks of a second plurality of circuit blocks in the second signal path and one or more of the second plurality of common components coupled to each of the plurality of signal paths Means for transmitting one or more second inactive signals to at least one of the second common components via the second testing path; And
Further comprising means for testing the second plurality of common components and the second one of each of the second plurality of circuit blocks using the second testing path.

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